Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Idlewild with a Private Chauffeur
Wines from Piedmont's grapes, grown in the high hills of Mendocino and Sonoma, poured with prosciutto and salumi just off the Healdsburg plaza, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Idlewild is the winery of Sam Bilbro, who grew up hanging out in a winery converted from an old cow barn, walking vineyards and tasting blends with his father. Working in restaurants later, he fell for the wines of Italy's Piedmont, and Idlewild is his pursuit of those grapes in the hills of Mendocino and Sonoma counties. He runs it as founder, managing partner and winemaker, with partner David Drummond and a small team.
The grapes are Piedmont's own: Arneis, Cortese, Dolcetto, Barbera and Nebbiolo. They come from the home vineyard, Lost Hills Ranch, at 1,500 feet in the Yorkville Highlands of Mendocino County; Fox Hill Vineyard in central Mendocino; and Las Cimas, which sits like a crown nearly 1,000 feet above the Middle Reach of the Russian River Valley and is planted to more than 40 varieties. The wines are made with a minimalist hand in a cooperative winery between Geyserville and Healdsburg that Idlewild shares with Leo Steen and Ruth Lewandowski.
The tasting room is a stone's throw from the Healdsburg plaza, and the visit is built around the table: all of the current single-variety Idlewild wines, served with prosciutto, salumi and Italian cheeses the winery sources just for this tasting. In the winery's words, no celebrity chefs, no culinary teams, just real wines served alongside slow foods. Tastings are inside or on the patio, weather permitting.
Tasting Fees
Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
132 Plaza Street, Healdsburg
AVA
Russian River Valley
Visiting
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are recommended, and walk-ins are welcome.
Known For
Wines from Piedmont varieties such as Arneis, Barbera, Dolcetto and Nebbiolo, grown in Mendocino and Sonoma counties
Founded
Not published by the winery
Good to Know
The guided tasting is for parties of 1 to 6; for day-of availability the winery takes calls. Idlewild also pours by the glass with plates of salumi, and hosts occasional ticketed events such as blind tastings.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Healdsburg hotel such as Hotel Healdsburg or h2hotel.
10:00 · Pickup at Hotel Healdsburg or h2hotel
Hotel Healdsburg, on the town plaza, and h2hotel, a green-roofed hotel just off the Healdsburg plaza, are each about 5 minutes from Idlewild. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:10 · Idlewild Wines
The first stop. The Idlewild Tasting of current wines with prosciutto, salumi and Italian cheeses, soon after the doors open at 10; we confirm the fee when we book.
11:20 · Merriam Vineyards
About 10 minutes away. A certified organic family estate in the Eastern Hills of the Russian River Valley, known for Bordeaux varieties rare in the valley, led by Windacre Vineyard Merlot. The seated Single Vineyard Tasting of five estate wines is $35 and takes 1.5 hours. Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome; open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with tastings until 3:30 p.m.
1:10 · Lunch at Dry Creek General Store
About 20 minutes away. A country store since 1881 at the crossroads of Dry Creek Valley, with a deli for sandwiches, soups and salads, a front porch over the valley and a garden out back. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:30 · Hawley Winery
About 10 minutes away. The Hawley family's certified organic estate high on Bradford Mountain, above the valley fog, where John Hawley, a falconer and former head winemaker at Kendall-Jackson, flies his hawks to keep birds off the grapes. The guided Vineyard Tour with a tasting of current releases is $35, and the Falconry Experience with John is $85. By reservation only.
3:45 · Back to your hotel
Back in Healdsburg by 4:05 p.m.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. Idlewild is open Wednesday to Sunday, so this day works Wednesday to Sunday, and Hawley is by reservation, so we confirm its time when we book. It ends around 4.
About $70 to $120 per person at Merriam and Hawley, paid directly to each winery; Idlewild's fee is to be verified upon reservation.
Every tour is custom. This day is a starting point: your chauffeur will shape it around what matters to you, and we plan multi-day tours for guests who want to see more of wine country.
Your Vehicle & Six-Hour Tour Rates
Up to 6 guests
Elite Luxury SUV
Lincoln Navigator or Cadillac Escalade
From $750
Six-hour wine tour, plus 20% gratuity. Additional hours $125 each.
Up to 9 guests
Jet Sprinter or Executive Luxury Van
Captain's chairs and room to spread out
From $1,350
Six-hour wine tour, plus 20% gratuity. Additional hours $225 each.
Larger groups travel in more than one vehicle, and we plan the winery appointments around your group, since many wineries limit groups to 6 to 8 guests. Tasting fees are separate and paid directly to each winery. Every tour starts with six hours; add time by the hour when you book.
Questions
Do I need a reservation at Idlewild?
Reservations are recommended, and walk-ins are welcome. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Idlewild?
The winery does not publish its tasting fee, so tasting fees are to be verified upon reservation.
What is the Idlewild tasting?
A guided tasting of the current single-variety wines, served with prosciutto, salumi and Italian cheeses, in the tasting room or on the patio.
Who makes the wine at Idlewild?
Founder and winemaker Sam Bilbro, in a cooperative winery between Geyserville and Healdsburg that Idlewild shares with Leo Steen and Ruth Lewandowski.
Where is Idlewild?
At 132 Plaza Street in downtown Healdsburg, a stone's throw from the plaza.
How does booking a tour with Bien Chauffeured work?
Reserve a six-hour tour online, even if your plans are still taking shape. Your chauffeur will email you first to learn what matters to you, then build your itinerary and make the winery appointments. Extra hours can be added.
Reserve Your Tour Now, Plan the Details Later
Your plans don't need to be final to book. Reserve your six-hour tour online, and your chauffeur will email you first to learn what matters to you, then build your itinerary and make the winery appointments. Prefer to talk? Call our concierge at 888-291-2328.
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